2027 Best Value Economics Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for economics students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Economics Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Economics Schools
University Of Missouri Kansas City tops our 2027 list of the best value economics schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in economics will find it at Fort Hays State University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,923, compared with $17,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,967 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $50,690 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Students borrow a median of $21,783 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $48,906 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Economics graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $56,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
A rank of #5 makes North Dakota State University Main Campus one of the best values for economics. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,153. Early-career economics graduates make about $54,076. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Economics graduates carry a median of $22,962 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $46,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
University Of Central Missouri ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,056 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $41,076. Set against $25,056 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Grinnell College placed #8 among the best values for economics. Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Grinnell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,196. Economics graduates carry a median of $16,950 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $46,791. Set against $16,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,793. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $44,898. Set against $19,793 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #10 position for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $49,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Dakota ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $64,378. That is a strong return on a $25,110 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas landed the #12 spot for economics value this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $45,420. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University earned the #13 position for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $23,414. Early-career economics graduates make about $57,619. Set against $23,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,250. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $50,873. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #15 among the best values for economics. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Students borrow a median of $21,474 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. Set against $21,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Kansas State University came in at #16 for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Students borrow a median of $20,312 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $52,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #17 position for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,815 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $52,635. That is a strong return on a $18,815 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Washington University In St Louis placed #18 among the best values for economics. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Economics graduates carry a median of $14,110 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $66,325. That is a strong return on a $14,110 median debt. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
South Dakota State University placed #19 among the best values for economics. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $26,062 in student loans. Economics graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $44,663 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa landed the #20 spot for economics value this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,407 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $50,223 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,407 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. In-state tuition and fees average $56,076. Students borrow a median of $24,474 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $52,439. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Gustavus Adolphus College admits about 61% of applicants.
St Olaf College placed #22 among the best values for economics. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,760. Economics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Economics graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $56,238 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Luther College landed the #23 spot for economics value this year. Located in the town of Decorah, Luther College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,120. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $26,967. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Luther College generally make around $42,426. Set against $26,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Luther College admits about 72% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Economics graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans. Economics graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $65,599 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,586 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Carleton College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. In-state tuition and fees average $68,892. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $66,567. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 20% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Economics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s economics value ranking:
Narrow Economics Schools by State
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
